Beam Setting Will Delay U.S. 24 Traffic

LIMA – Beams for a bridge structure on new U.S. 24 near Defiance will be set in place beginning Monday and will cause short-term traffic delays over the next two weeks, said Tim Burkepile, Ohio Department of Transportation District 1 deputy director.

Crews will be working on the structure which will carry U.S. 24 over the CSX railroad and over Baltimore Street (formerly Ohio 424) at the west edge of Defiance. Work will take place generally between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day of the operation.

Work will begin first over the section which spans the railroad. The beams will be set on this section on Monday and Tuesday. One-lane traffic will be maintained through the area with flaggers.

Beginning Monday, February 23, beams will be set in place for the section of the structure spanning Baltimore Street, which is currently serving as rerouted U.S. 24 during construction of a new interchange. Work is expected to be completed by Wednesday of that week.

Traffic during this phase of the operation will be stopped in both directions at times while crews set the beams over the travel lanes. Traffic is expected to be stopped for no more than 15 minutes at a time, said Burkepile.

Work on the interchange will be completed late this year when four-lane U.S. 24 from the Indiana line to Defiance is expected to open to traffic.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhonda Pees, ODOT District 1, 419-999-6803